In the battle for space on Britain’s congested highways, it’s the cyclist who frequently plays David to the Goliath-like power of the motor vehicle. Yet such received wisdom has been abruptly subverted thanks to the case of a cyclist, Robert Hazeldean. He has been ordered to pay damages to a pedestrian, Gemma Brushett, after he collided with her as she stepped out in front of his bike while she was staring at her phone. It’s a case that I believe, as a motoring lawyer of nearly 40 years standing, highlights an urgent need for a change in legislation if we are to make our roads safer for everyone. The problem of pedestrians distracted by their mobiles, known as “smombies” or smartphone zombies, is an enduring…

Source: The Times June 24, 2019 22:52 UTC